Economic Strain and Couple Relationship Functioning: A Meta-Analysis

摘要

The purpose of this meta-analysis was to quantitatively consolidate the literature on the association between economic strain and couple relationship functioning (negative interactions, positive interactions, satisfaction, and stability) using the family economic stress model (FESM; Conger, Ge, & Lorenz, 1994) as a theoretical framework and evaluate report, methodological, and sociodemographic factors for moderating effects. Additionally, a key focus of this meta-analytic integration was to address discordant findings regarding various aspects of FESM and examine for the first time the differential effects of economic strain on each of the couple relationship functioning dimensions. Consistent with FESM, results from 29 independent samples with a combined total of 34,007 participants indicated a moderate negative relationship between economic strain and relationship functioning (r =-.24). Negative interaction was positively associated with economic strain (r =.25), whereas positive interactions (r = -.17), satisfaction (r = -.25), and stability (r = -.20) were negatively associated with economic strain. No differential effects of economic strain on the couple relationship functioning dimensions were found. Moderator analyses indicated no gender differences but significant effects of some report and sociodemographic factors (e.g., income level, nationality). Clinical and research implications are discussed.